A few stray thoughts on the Anglican Covenant and the recent meeting of the Central Committee of the Anglican Communion (I can't bring myself to accept the power-grab-by-name- change that Rowan Williams has affected by calling this thing a Standing Committee, so I am using another name).
From the final Paragraph:
Finally, I think we need to stop thinking of Rowan Williams as a gentle, scholarly soul caught between warring parties, doing his best to make peace.
Do read the entire post.
Finally, I think we need to stop thinking of Rowan Williams as a gentle, scholarly soul caught between warring parties, doing his best to make peace.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a dog in this fight; but I stopped doing that a long time ago.
Power plays are all about power, and nothing else. That can, in fact, be quite "scholarly." But it's not academic. Interestingly, must reading the final chapter of Karen Armstrong's latest book, where she discusses the trend in contemporary theology toward "weak thought" as a way of doing theology, an idea from Gianni Vattimo that "strong thought" is (as in traditional metaphysics) interested not in the truth (which is always subject to interpretation, per post-modernism) but in imposing my ideas on you.
Which is (though I explain it poorly) pretty much what Rowan is doing. Well, at least it's traditional....(although not necessarily the tradition of the Anglican Communion.)
The scales are falling from my eyes, Rmj. I wanted to believe that Rowan was a head-in-the-clouds academic type bumbling around causing breakage, but not purposefully. But it seems that his eyes are fixed firmly on the Vatican in great hope that he can show and tell the pope of a unified communion, not rivaling Rome, but, at least, coming up second. And he will do what he must to get to that point. If you think about it, he's stayed on the same course from the beginning, when betrayed his good friend Jeffrey John.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't explain poorly at all. "Power plays are all about power...."
I'm moving on to wonder which Anglican province will be the jewel in the crown of the "Anglican Communion". (I use quotation marks because I'm not sure that such an entity any longer exists.)
An excellent post. I think I see a little revolution in the works.... yes, perhaps it is time to throw the oppressors off. once again.
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to the church? It makes me soooooo sad, she sez, steeling herself for the marathon ahead....
Another alternative would be to sign the covenant but to include a signing statement which expresses our understanding of the what properly does and does not constitute the proper scope of the agreement and what matters are not subject to the scope of the agreement.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is important not to allow others to define us as not Anglican, and I think it is important for us to stay in the communion. I also think that time is in our favor in most places in the communion including much of Africa. The longer we prolong this process, the weaker I think the reactionaries will become. Signing with reservations serves to prolong the process, and prolonging the process is in our best interest.
Margaret, it's time someone said it.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Tobias and Pseudopiskie suggest something similar, sort of like marking our territory in Anglicanland. In any case, nothing can be done until 2012, the date of the next GC, or even 2015 or later if a change in the constitution is required.
I, for one, support your proposal of making the baptismal covenant "our" stance. Anyone who is willing to share in that with us will be our communion. That is more than enough, it's rather wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI've always suspected Rowan's motives. I'm not as kind and good as you, Mimi. And I know from experience that academic power-grabbers are some of the dirtiest pool players in the game. Many would sell their grandmother's soul to secure their places.
I don't understand why anyone would even want to be in the anglican communion. Surly your alliances will remain intact, certainly people will continue to take your money. Being free of the ac really will free you. You have nothing to loose but your chains.
ReplyDeleteWho was it who said, "No one draws blood like academics."?
ReplyDeleteMethinks Time is running out for our dear Rowan...
ReplyDeleteTo Counterlight,
ReplyDeleteIn Sweden we talk of the Odium Theologicum as being far worse than the Odium Academicum ;=)
From the beginning, when word of the Covenant first came to light, I said that we have the New Covenant of Jesus Christ and the Baptismal Covenant. What need for another Covenant?
ReplyDeletePriscilla, I wanted to give Rowan the benefit of the doubt and think of him as bumbling rather than determined to follow the course which he has consistently chosen. I believe I must let go of that idea.
Our relations with other provinces will remain intact, Lindy, and TEC will save money by not traveling to and being asked to pay for meetings to which they are not invited.
Göran, I love that statement. Yes indeed. I believe that the Odium Theologicum may be far worse than the Odium Academicum.
"No one draws blood like academics."
Counterlight, has Göran persuaded you that you may want to tack on "except theologians" to your statement?